Raleigh, NC – October 1, 2020: The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) is one of several partners named in the recent announcement that Nestle Purina Petcare Company (Purina) will be locating a new manufacturing facility in Rockingham County. In total, the Purina facility will bring an investment of $450 million and 300 jobs.
Purina requires freight rail infrastructure to serve the new facility. Through the North Carolina Railroad Company’s economic development initiative, NCRR Invests, NCRR is investing approximately $2.1 million to assist with the repair of an existing rail line in order to return it to service. The line terminates in Eden, N.C. and is served by Class I freight rail provider, Norfolk Southern. Repair of the line also creates the opportunity for companies located along the line to take advantage of rail service and connects available sites to rail, enabling them to be marketed as rail-served industrial sites.
“Investments like this are the result of strong partnerships.” says NCRR President and CEO, Carl Warren. “We are happy to be at the table with Rockingham County, the City of Eden, Rockingham County Center for Economic Development and the many partners that made this important project happen. Not only will this investment assist in the location of a company that is bringing hundreds of jobs, but it is opening other sites and facilities up to rail-service, increasing North Carolina’s competitive advantage in the recruitment of rail-served business and industry.”
Additional project partners include the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority, Norfolk Southern Corp., and Duke Energy.
About the North Carolina Railroad Company
The North Carolina Railroad Company is a private corporation whose voting stock is owned by the State of North Carolina. The Company manages the use of 317 miles of track and property stretching from Charlotte to the Port of Morehead City. The Company’s mission is to put the North Carolina Railroad Company to work for the good of the people of North Carolina and improve our state by expanding freight rail opportunities to grow business, enabling rail to move people and investing in North Carolina.
About NCRR Invests
NCRR Invests provides assistance to companies that take advantage of the state’s freight rail opportunities and create jobs by locating or expanding their business in North Carolina. The goal of any NCRR investment is to drive job creation and economic growth.
